Raincoast scientists contribute to paper on impacts of commercial harvesting

Raincoast scientists Dr. Chris Darimont and Dr. Paul Paquet are authors on an important paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.’a0 The paper examines the impacts of commercial harvesting on plants and animals.

The researchers examined 29 species of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants and found that rates of evolutionary change were three times higher in species subject to ’93harvest selection’94 than in other species.’a0 The study included data on BC salmon, which have declined in size compared with historical populations as a result of the size-selective predation imposed by fisheries.

New York Times,’a0 January 12, 2009, Research Ties Human Acts to Harmful Rates of Species Evolution

Globe and Mail,’a0 January 13, 2009,’a0 Natural selection gives way to human selection

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (abstract)’a0 Human predators outpace other agents of trait change in the wild

You can help

Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.

We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.